Nadal expecting to play well

Rafael Nadal is confident that he can mount a strong challenge for a second Australian Open triumph, having claimed his sole Melbourne title to date a decade ago.

Nadal has not played on the ATP Tour since being forced to retire during his US Open semi-final clash with Juan Martin del Potro in September last year, but the Spaniard believes that time away from the court could turn out to be a good thing.

He told reporters: "I think I'm playing well to start the action. It's been a while since competing at the US Open last year, so let's see how the tournament starts, but I'm confident I can play well.

"I want to be (in Melbourne) a long period of time."

Meanwhile, Nadal believes he is in a better place than he was 12 months ago, despite undergoing ankle surgery in November, with a knee problem having forced him to retire at Flushing Meadows.

He added: "I had the surgery, but after the surgery I was able to have some good weeks of practice. I have been positive.

"I feel my body is better than last year. That's an accident that happened, a product of being out of the competition for a while."

Nadal won his one and only Australian Open title in 2009, defeating Roger Federer in a five-set classic in Melbourne.

He has reached the final Down Under on three other occasions, losing out to Novak Djokovic in 2012, Stan Wawrinka two years later and Federer in 2017.

Nadal can be backed at 13/2 to win the Australian Open this year, with Federer priced at 4/1 and Djokovic available at 5/4.